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Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #12: Smoked salmon bagel plate, The Local

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

Smoked salmon bagel, The Local
Smoked salmon bagel plate with chive cream cheese, tomato, and red onion

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: I love a good bagel and lox, so was drawn to this creative presentation of swirls of smoked salmon alongside all the other fixings. I appreciated the luxury of assembling the bagel according to my own ideal proportions, especially out on The Local’s sun-drenched Streeterville patio.

The details: The Local, 198 E. Delaware Pl., Chicago.

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2014 Best Bite #11: Goat cheese and fig jam crostini, Blue Door Farm Stand

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

Goat cheese and fig jam crostini, Blue Door Farm Stand
Goat cheese and fig jam crostini

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: These crispy crostini made a picturesque afternoon snack, each with a generous knob of goat cheese and slathering of fig jam. I also loved Blue Door’s airy interior, with reclaimed wood and other rustic touches that made it feel like a trendy farmhouse.

The details: Blue Door Farm Stand, 843 Armitage Ave., Chicago.

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2014 Best Bite #10: Fried chicken and waffles, GT Fish & Oyster

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

Fried chicken and waffles, GT Fish & Oyster
Fried chicken and waffles with Burton’s maplewood farm syrup

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: Tucked amongst GT Fish & Oyster’s menu of generally seafood-leaning brunch dishes is their perfectly executed version of chicken and waffles. The generously battered chicken stayed exceedingly juicy atop fluffy waffles, all drizzled with pure maple syrup.

View another brunch Best Bite from GT Fish & Oyster.

The details: GT Fish & Oyster, 531 N. Wells St., Chicago.

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2014 Best Bite #9: Spring vegetable orecchetti, Summer House Santa Monica

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

Spring vegetable orecchietti, Summer House Santa Monica
Spring vegetable orecchietti with ramps, favas, asparagus, and pecorino

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: Within Summer House’s bright, beachy environs, this pasta dish celebrated the peak of spring’s green vegetables. Fresh orecchietti pasta mingled with favas, peas, asparagus, and ultra-seasonal ramps, plus pecorino cheese and pickled onions to bring it together. And although they aren’t pictured here, it’s a crime to leave Summer House without at least one of the gigantic, freshly baked cookies at the front counter (I’ll admit that I’ve stopped in on multiple occasions just for the cookies alone).

The details: Summer House Santa Monica, 1954 N. Halsted St., Chicago.

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2014 Best Bite #8: Mapo tofu, Lao Sze Chuan

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

Mapo tofu, Lao Sze Chuan
Mapo tofu

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: This silky tofu, bathed in a fiery sauce flecked with green onions and lots of chiles, is my go-to tofu dish. It’s available at any of Lao Sze Chuan’s locations – perhaps the best Chinese food franchise in Chicago – but I was especially happy to try it out at the relatively new location in my college town.

The details: Lao Sze Chuan, 1633 Orrington Ave., Evanston.

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Best Bites Chicago

2014 Best Bite #7: Blue Cubby Crunch ice cream, Bobtail Ice Cream Company

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

Blue Cubby Crunch ice cream, Bobtail Ice Cream Company
Blue Cubby Crunch with vanilla ice cream, sprinkles, Oreo, chocolate chips, and toffee

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: Bobtail makes some of the best ice cream in the city, so I’m always excited to see what special flavors are in the case when I stop in. Cubby Crunch is a common offering, but this brilliant shade of blue was only available for a week or so. With a vanilla base that tasted almost like cake batter, the ice cream’s Smurfy hue belied all the other ingredients packed inside: Oreo, sprinkles, toffee, and chocolate chips.

The details: Bobtail Ice Cream Company, 2951 N. Broadway, Chicago.

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2014 Best Bite #6: Grilled cheese flight, Bar Pastoral

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

Grilled cheese flight, Bar Pastoral
Three-part flight: traditional grilled cheese made with Widmer’s one-year cheddar and served with tomato tapenade; Castelinhos grilled cheese served with charred scallion pepper jelly; and Scharfe Maxx Extra grilled cheese served with chocolate ganache

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: Bar Pastoral offered this flight back in April to celebrate National Grilled Cheese Month, a worthy promotion for a restaurant that’s adjacent to a cheese shop. Each of the three melty sandwiches was paired with a dipping sauce, and although the tomato tapenade and charred scallion pepper jelly both worked well with their respective cheeses, it was the chocolate ganache that struck me as most inventive and delicious.

The details: Bar Pastoral, 2947 N. Broadway, Chicago.

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2014 Best Bite #5: Savory almond crepe, Lula Café

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

Savory almond crepe, Lula Café
Savory almond crepe with jarlsberg cheese, sweet potato, lamb pancetta, grilled chicories, anchovy vinaigrette, and sunny side egg

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: It shouldn’t be too surprising that a dish from Lula has landed on this list for the third year in a row, since I go there more often than nearly any other restaurant. This brunch special stood out for both its striking appearance and its comforting flavors. Crispy lamb, sweet potato, and cheese were ensconced by the fluffiest of crepes, with greens and walnuts to balance out the richness of the egg on top.

View two more Best Bites from Lula Café brunch, one savory and one sweet.

The details: Lula Café, 2537 N Kedzie Ave., Chicago.

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2014 Best Bite #15: Breadsticks and goat cheese, Homeslice

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

Breadsticks and goat cheese, Homeslice
Beer-basted breadsticks with goat cheese marinara sauce for dipping

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: For some reason, I usually have ended up at Homeslice when I’m not hungry enough for an entire pizza (their specialty), and instead opt for more of a snack on the restaurant’s cheerful back patio. These beer-basted, pleasantly chewy breadsticks always fit the bill, with enough goat cheese–laden marinara sauce for frequent dunking.

The details: Homeslice, 938 W. Webster Ave., Chicago.

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2014 Best Bite #4: Banana biscoff pocket and coffee, Stan’s Donuts

For the third year in a row, I’m using each day in December to celebrate the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2014, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at year-end Best Bites from 2012 and 2013.

Banana biscoff pocket and Intelligentsia coffee, Stan's Donuts
Banana biscoff pocket and Intelligentsia coffee

Why it’s another 2014 Best Bite: I thought Chicago had already hit its donut peak, but the idea of stuffing one with biscoff spread (also known as cookie butter or speculoos) proved that Stan’s had reached a new level of genius. Adding in hefty banana slices, two kinds of glaze, and a cup of Intelligentsia coffee on the side made it fried pastry perfection.

The details: Stan’s Donuts, 1560 N. Damen Ave., Chicago.

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